Q & A Session

Question 1

Why is Dix-Hallpike useful?

Answer 1

• Isolating the canals can help you distinguish BPPV from other vestibular disorders
• Can help you make suggestions to the patient to improve quality of life

Question 2

What does a cold compress do?

Answer 2

It reduces inflammation

Question 3

What does a warm compress do?

Answer 3

It helps loosen matted discharge or eyes that are “glued shut” by pus/drainage/discharge

Question 4

What are the two sound characteristics the cochlea transducers?

Answer 4

1. Frequency (pitch)

2. Intensity (loudness)

Question 5

How is frequency encoded in the ear?

Answer 5

Based on what part of the basilar membrane vibrates (traveling wave principle)

Question 6

How is intensity encoded in the ear?

Answer 6

As sound intensity increases, amplitude of BM vibration increases, which increases size of receptor potential generated. This increased intensity means that the vibration will spread to adjacent regions, stimulating more hair cells (recruitment)

Question 7

When is the light reflex not present?

Answer 7

Brainstem death!!

Question 8

What happens in sensorineuronal hearing loss?

Answer 8

Inc. in threshold and/or loss of ability to transduce specific frequencies due to damage to cochlea, auditory nerve or cochlear nucleus.
-Air and bone threshold are increases at spec. freq. [Audiogram]

Question 9

What happens in conductive hearing loss?

Answer 9

Increase in threshold due to decrease in sound transmission through the external/middle ears
Air threshold is increased, bone remains the same [Audiogram]

Question 10

How does German measles (Rubella) affect hearing loss?

Answer 10

Risk in vitro during first trimester of deafness - vertical transmission - affects organ development of organ of court

Question 11

How can measles (rubeola) cause deafness?

Answer 11

Not during fetal development but under age 2 you can get deafness from primary infection and encephalitis